Ducks 6, Panthers 2

March 23, 2014|Reuters

Ducks 6, Panthers 2: Captain Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry each recorded a goal and two assists as host Anaheim posted its third win in nine games (3-4-2).

Teemu Selanne and Patrick Maroon notched a tally and an assist apiece while Jakob Silfverberg and Kyle Palmieri also scored for the Ducks, who climbed within one point of first-place San Jose in the Pacific Division with a game in hand. Jonas Hiller turned aside 28 shots en route to his second victory in six decisions (2-2-2).

Jimmy Hayes and Tomas Fleischmann tallied for the Panthers, who completed a 1-3-0 road trip. Former Duck Dan Ellis made 34 saves but has allowed 11 goals in two starts - both losses - since being acquired from Dallas.

After Maroon opened the scoring midway through the first period with a power-play goal, Selanne beat Ellis with a one-timer from the inner edge of the right faceoff circle 15 seconds into the middle session. Silfverberg made it 3-0 while short-handed at 4:08, picking off a pass in the neutral zone and sliding a backhander between Ellis' pads during a breakaway.

Hayes and Fleischmann scored 2:01 apart midway through the second to get Florida within one, but Palmieri scored at 10:55 and Perry tapped in a loose puck in the crease while on his knees 61 seconds later to restore the three-goal lead. Getzlaf beat Ellis from the slot 6 1/2 minutes into the third to complete his three-point performance and end his 10-game goal-scoring drought.

GAME NOTEBOOK: With his three-point performance, Getzlaf raised his career total to 600. He has reached the 30-goal plateau for the first time in nine NHL seasons. ... Anaheim D Sami Vatanen recorded an assist after being recalled from Norfolk of the American Hockey League earlier in the day. ... Florida C Vincent Trocheck's assist on Fleischmann's goal was his first in 10 NHL contests. The 20-year-old scored two goals over his first nine games. ... Maroon suffered a lower-body injury late in the second period and did not return.